Hong Kong police arrest 6 as protesters try to storm legislature; organizers condemn clashes
Published November 19, 2014
A protester rests as others hold shields after they tried to break into the Legislative Council in Hong Kong Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. Protesters clashed with police early Wednesday after they tried to break into Hong Kong's Legislative Council building. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)(The Associated Press)
Police officers rest after protesters tried to break into the Legislative Council in Hong Kong Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. Protesters clashed with police early Wednesday after they tried to break into Hong Kong's Legislative Council building. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)(The Associated Press)
HONG KONG Tensions spiked at democracy protests that have gripped Hong Kong for nearly two months as a small group of activists clashed with police while trying to break into the city's legislature early Wednesday.
Police arrested six people in the overnight clashes and warned of more arrests. The scuffling came hours after authorities enforced a court order to clear some barricades from a small section of a nearby site occupied by pro-democracy activists.
The clashes underscored mounting frustration as the protests calling for free elections in China's semiautonomous territory drag on for more than 50 days with no end in sight.
Protest leaders distanced themselves from and condemned the violence, which was apparently organized through an Internet forum known to attract people with radical views. But they also blamed the Hong Kong government for angering demonstrators by failing to respond to their demands.
The protesters used metal barricades and concrete slabs to smash glass doors at the legislature before police used pepper spray, batons and riot shields to push them back. Police said the protesters repeatedly charged their cordon and injured three officers.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Fernando Cheung tried to intervene, but was pulled aside by protesters.
"We can't agree with the reason for taking this action," said Joshua Wong, the 18-year-old leader of Scholarism, one of two student groups leading the protests.
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Hong Kong police arrest 6 as protesters try to storm legislature; organizers condemn clashes